Just a few months ago, superhero fatigue was the talk of the town. "Will superheroes stop being Hollywood's premiere cash source?" The question was floated around seemingly endlessly—and understandably so. While the concept continues to be heavily debated (and often outright rejected), the fact is, recent superhero movies have failed to elicit the fanfare they did mere years ago.
At the height of the comic book craze that swept the world, films like Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps would have likely had no issues crossing the ever-coveted billion-dollar mark. Relatively smaller movies like Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World could have similarly been much more successful than they were upon their release earlier in 2025.
Yet, despite those shortcomings, it'd be unwise to ring the bell on comic book adaptations. After all, the genre can stil rebound, particularly given the positive critical reception enjoyed by nearly all of 2025's comic book tentpoles. Having said that, such a possibility is unlikely to be properly gauged with films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day or Avengers: Doomsday as the metric. They're tentpoles based on some of the world's most popular IP. Barring an exceptional situation, chances are the general public will be at least somewhat interested in those movies.
No. The film that will likely end up being the most accurate gauge to determine audience interest in superheroes will be DC Studios' Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock and directed by Craig Gillespie. The movie has positioned itself as one of the most interesting projects of 2026, and that, alongside its unmistakable identity as a superhero movie, is what, ironically enough, makes it the perfect barometer for the future of comic book adaptations. But why is that, exactly?
Before tackling that question, it's important to point out that Supergirl isn't the only DC Studios movie releasing in 2026. Right alongside it is Clayface, the Mike Flanagan/Hossein Amini-written horror film directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys Harries. However, there's a specific reason Clayface isn't a candidate to potentially carry the answer for the future of the comic book genre on its very gooey shoulders.
Aside from its DC branding, in terms of public perception, there is little tying the movie to a larger superhero universe. Yes, it's set in Gotham, and yes, it stars a Batman villain. Yet, the character of Clayface is relatively obscure, and with no indication of a Batman appearance in it, Clayface has every opportunity to stand on its own as an experimental body-horror film. Therefore, if it fails financially, it will do so on its own merits—not as a superhero tentpole, but as a horror movie that simply didn't land.
Supergirl is a different story. Straight from the first poster released, there was no confusing this project as anything other than a superhero film. She had the costume, the "S" shield, and the fun, zany, color palette that's become a calling card for superhero blockbusters. It is DC Studios' next big tentpole after Superman, and that's impossible to misinterpret or miss. Supergirl is a superhero movie through and through, and as such, its acceptance or rejection from audiences can be a statement on the larger comic book movie genre.
The film stars one of the best young actors around, Milly Alcock, and it's helmed by a director responsible for high-quality projects like I, Tonya and Cruella (no, take your fingers off the keyboard. Cruella is a good movie and we all know it). It's also based on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which delivers a gripping story of grief, found family and perseverance. Being an adaptation of that tale, Supergirl isn't just an expensive-looking sci-fi project—it's likely a sci-fi adventure with heart. What I'm saying is, the film has all the right elements to succeed.
It is, unapologetically, a superhero movie, with a likable and talented lead, a talented director and it's based on one of the best comic book runs in modern times.
Now, despite her unmistakable iconography, Kara Zor-El is a fairly obscure character. Though she's had her own TV series, a standalone feature in the '80s, and co-starred in 2023's The Flash, she hasn't truly popped outside of the pop culture space. Yet, her film looks so promising and fun, that Kara Zor-El's obscurity among general audiences should not impede the project from finding success. And, in the case it doesn't find an audience, Kara's somewhat-niche popularity should not be blamed, given the project's aforementioned qualities.
In fact, it could be argued that Supergirl has the potential to reach the heights reached by 2019's Captain Marvel, another film based on a fairly unknown superhero that broke through thanks to an ideal combination of elements, some of which were its cast and visual appeal.
All of this is to say that Supergirl is a promising project, arguably one of the top ones coming in 2026. It has the potential to break through its protagonist's relative obscurity, and endear itself to audiences of all ages. Given its unique position in the comic book genre, the movie succeeding financially could show that, with the right combination of elements (including a strong makerting campaign), there's still hope for superheroes on the big screen.
On the other hand, Supergirl underperforming or outright failing could be taken as an indication that consumers have, indeed, largely moved on from our beloved costumed do-gooders and their adventures. Thunderbolts* already experienced getting an outstanding critical reception that did not translate to box office numbers. That itself could be considered a significant sign regarding the state of comic book media among general audiences. If Supergirl suffers the same fate, things will likely not look good for future superhero adaptations.
For the sake of all of us geeks, let's hope that is not the outcome Supergirl faces once it arrives next year.
Supergirl will fly into theaters on June 26, 2026.